The French Government/Parliament relationship
Post Terran Europa
23-04-2007, 19:31
I just read this in my textbook on Western European Governments, and I am slightly scared. Could someone please elaborate on it for me as I can't quite believe what I'm reading
"The constitution [Of the French fifth republuc 1958-present] specifes the areas in which Parliament can legislate and allows the government to act by decree in all other areas"
WHAT!!!!!!!!!
Can someone please elaborate on this. What are the areas? How does this decree system work?
Post Terran Europa
23-04-2007, 19:45
Is no one going to pay any attention? Or should I have titled the thread "IS FRANCE A DICTATORSHIP?"
Is no one going to pay any attention? Or should I have titled the thread "IS FRANCE A DICTATORSHIP?"
yes, you probably should, but it's quite normal that it takes more than 15 minutes before someone posts, especially in serious threads.
you could also look here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decree#France)
Atopiana
23-04-2007, 19:53
Every nation has a clause like that, I should think.
Post Terran Europa
23-04-2007, 20:02
Every nation has a clause like that, I should think.
It doenst sound like emergency powers to me, the way the textbook describes it. This sounds like day to day governing.
Myu in the Middle
23-04-2007, 20:31
It doenst sound like emergency powers to me, the way the textbook describes it. This sounds like day to day governing.
It does indeed. Did you know that there's a similar system in place in the British system of government? Since the introduction of the Parliament act, the institutional Assent of the Queen to any act passed by the Commons and the ability of the Government to assert it's position as a representative of popular majority have meant that the cabinet is often allowed to pass laws on a technicality without a single vote ever being cast.
Trotskylvania
23-04-2007, 21:02
I just read this in my textbook on Western European Governments, and I am slightly scared. Could someone please elaborate on it for me as I can't quite believe what I'm reading
"The constitution [Of the French fifth republuc 1958-present] specifes the areas in which Parliament can legislate and allows the government to act by decree in all other areas"
WHAT!!!!!!!!!
Can someone please elaborate on this. What are the areas? How does this decree system work?
In a semi-parliamentary system like France's, "government" refers to the cabinet of ministers appointed by the President and approved by Parliament to carry out the tasks of running the country. Within select areas, these ministers can act by decree in their departments to determine policy so long as 1) the President is happy and 2) Parliament hasn't given them a vote of no confidence.
Whenever there is a change of power in Parliament, the "government" resigns to be reappointed by the President with consent of the new governing coalition.